ISC 370 - Human-Computer Interaction

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I. COURSE NUMBER AND CREDIT:

     ISC 370 - 3 S. H.

II. COURSE TITLE:

	 Human-Computer Interaction

III. COURSE DESCRIPTION:

      This course is neither a study of humans nor a
 	study of computers, but rather an investigation of the
 	 bridge between the two.  We consider what the technology
 	 can do as well as how it can fit in with what people do.
 	 Emphasis is placed on actual design and evaluation of
 	 interaction between users and selected computer applications.

IV. PREREQUISITES:

	 Junior status, at least 2 ISC or CSC courses,
	 or permission of instructor.

V. JUSTIFICATION:

     As our dependence on computerized information systems
 	 grows, it becomes increasingly important for students to
 	 understand what happens when humans and computers communicate
 	 with each other.  How can computer systems be designed to
 	 fit their users, to take account of human abilities and to
 	 minimize the possibilities for human error?  Human-computer
 	 interaction is an interdisciplinary field, so this elective
 	 course may be of interest to juniors and seniors from
 	 information science, computer science, psychology, and
 	 management.  It would especially complement classes dealing
 	 with systems analysis and design, information use, software
 	 engineering, and human information processing.  The course will
	 be offered once a year in the spring.  Classes of 35 or
 	 fewer students will allow for effective discussion and group
 	 work.

VI. COURSE OBJECTIVES:

	 As a result of this course, students will:
	 *  Appreciate what HCI encompasses
	 *  Understand Norman's design principles
	 *  Analyze information needs of system users
	 *  Understand human information processing abilities and
 		 constraints
	 *  Understand human learning principles
	 *  Discuss technical options for interaction (e.g.
 		 Input/output devices, interaction styles, visual
 		 organization of data)
	 *  Apply user-centered design processes to interface design
	 *  Design prototype interfaces
	 *  Evaluate prototypes for usability
	 *  Examine the role of social/organizational context in
 		 successful design for system use.

VII. COURSE OUTLINE:

     A.  What is HCI
         1.  Goals, evolution, importance
         2.  Components
         3.  Conceptual models (Norman, Preece, Hix & Hartson)
     B.  Interaction design I
         1.  User-centered system design principles
         2.  Methodologies for learning about users and needs
         3.  Needs analysis; requirements gathering
      C.  Human abilities and constraints
         1.  Cognition, information processing (perception,
 				attention, memory)
         2.  Mental models (Norman)
         3.  Interface metaphors
     D.  Computer and system characteristics
         1.  Interaction devices (Input/output)
         2.  Interaction styles (commands, menus,
 				direct manipulation, gesture)
         3.  User support (online help, manuals)
     E.  Interaction design II
         1.  Envisioning design (mock-ups)
         2.  Design guidelines
         3.  Prototyping
     F.  Evaluation of interfaces
         1.  Purposes
         2.  Types, timing
         3.  Methodologies (e.g. iterative prototyping,
 				usability studies)
     G.  Interfaces and systems in social contexts
         1.  Groupware
         2.  Contextual design
         3.  Participatory design   

VIII. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:

     Lecture, class discussion, videos, group work

IX. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

     Readings, group projects, papers, presentations

X. MEANS OF EVALUATION:

     Exams, group presentations, papers

XI. RESOURCES:

     No additional resources are necessary. 

XII. BIBLIOGRAPHY:

TEXT:
	Preece, J., Rogers, Y., Sharp, H., Benyon, D., 
	   Holland, S., Carey, T. Human-Computer Interaction, Reading, MA:
	   Addison-Wesley, 1994.


	Association for Computing Machinery, Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction, 
	   Curriculum Development Group, Curricula forHuman-Computer Interaction, New York:
	   ACM, 1992. 


	Baecker, R.M.  Readings in groupware and computer-supported cooperativework:
	   Assisting human-human collaboration, San Francisco:  MorganKaufmann, 1993.


	Baecker, R.M., Grudin, J., Buxton, W.A.S., Greenberg, S.. Readings in Human-Computer
	   Interaction: Toward the year 2000, 2nd ed., San Francisco: Morgan Kaufmann, 1995.


	Dumas, J. S., & Redish, J. C.  A practical guide to usability testing,Norwood, NJ:  
	   Ablex, 1993.

	Greenbaum, Joan and Kyng, Morten, eds.  Design at work: Cooperative design of computer
	   systems, Hillsdale, NJ:  Erlbaum, 1991.
 
	Norman, Donald.  The design of everyday things.  New York:  Doubleday,1990.

	Schneiderman, B.  Designing the user interface, 3rd ed., Reading, MA: Addison
	   Wesley, 1999.

	Yearly proceedings (Human factors in computing systems) and quarterly 
	   Bulletin from the ACM Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction(SIG CHI).